Golden Core is a Star, and You Call This Cultivation?

Rippling waters shimmered under the sunlight after a rain, the surface of Yeshan Lake exuding a serene charm.

A young girl held a kitchen knife in her hand, gazing at the fish in the water with a curious look.

“Is this a specter fish? It doesn’t look any different from a normal fish.”

“Do bad guys ever walk around with the word ‘bad’ written on their foreheads?”

“That’s true, Old Knife!”

The kitchen knife in her hand swung lightly, its movements embodying precision, swiftness, and sharpness to perfection.

It must be said that cutting vegetables had dramatically improved Jiang Yunxi’s combat proficiency.

Born of noble lineage and raised with a golden spoon, Jiang Yunxi had virtually no real combat experience.

Using a kitchen knife to chop vegetables had inadvertently become one of her few diligent exercises.

A cold, mechanical voice echoed. Jiang Yunxi blinked, puzzled.

“Who said that? I gain experience for killing fish? What kind of experience?”

Jiang Yunxi kept chattering non-stop, her words flying out like firecrackers.

“Sorry, but the experience gained from killing specters is mine,” Qi Yuan responded truthfully.

“You get experience? What do I gain then?”

“You gain… experience in killing fish. It’ll make you much faster when preparing fish for cooking in the future.”

“Huh?”

“Stop standing there in a daze. There are plenty more specter fish in this lake. Hurry up and kill them.”

“Alright!”

“Watch out! If I hadn’t turned just now, you’d have chopped this boat in half!”

“Sorry!”

“Your technique is solid; you’ve turned those specters into sashimi already.”

“Sashimi? That’s just dead fish slices!”

On Yeshan Lake, the battle unfolded continuously. Jiang Yunxi wielded her kitchen knife, slicing through the fish in the water one after another.

Her expression was focused, her eyes gleaming with delight.

To her, every specter deserved to die.

Her unwavering determination was unseen by others.

But that didn’t matter. She would document this thrilling and perilous battle in her diary, capturing every heated moment.

On another boat, Yun Li and Yun Hu sat observing from afar, swaying slightly as the motion of the waves made them feel queasy.

“The young lady… does have some ability.”

“She’s just venting her frustrations on a bunch of regular fish. That’s all this is.”

“It’s fine. They’re just fish. As long as she doesn’t go too far in and doesn’t provoke the Water Sovereign, everything will be fine.”

“It’s getting dark. We should probably prepare to head back.”

“The young lady’s afraid of the dark.”

…

Deep beneath Yeshan Lake, a snake-like man slithered through the water, entering an underwater palace.

If a Weapon Master were here, they would have immediately recognized him as a Bloodthorn elder.

After all, Bloodthorn was infamous for their twisted methods of merging humans with specters.

The Snake Elder entered the underwater palace, moving deeper into its recesses.

The environment shifted; the surrounding water vanished as if held at bay by some mystical barrier, and the palace now appeared no different from one on land.

A faint stench of blood, mingled with the metallic tang of rust, hung in the air.

“How are things progressing?” The Snake Elder twisted his body, his snake-like pupils cold and menacing.

“Reporting to the Elder: the specter blood concoction is nearly complete. However… one of the ‘pets’ we released earlier seems to have been slain by a young girl.”

The gray-robed man who reported this trembled nervously.

“She was accompanied by two Earth-tier Weapon Masters, so we didn’t dare to act.”

“Hmm?” A sharp chill flashed in the Snake Elder’s cold eyes. “They’ve been discovered? No… If that were the case, the Heavenly Sect wouldn’t be this quiet. It must be a coincidence.”

“Continue to monitor the situation. Release more fish tomorrow. I want this entire water domain turned into a specter realm!”

The Snake Elder’s face twisted into a sinister grin, his expression sending shivers down spines.

“Once the specter realm takes form, and with the Water Sovereign’s assistance, Jining Prefecture will fall completely under my control. Even if a Heaven-tier Weapon Master comes, they’ll be powerless to stop me!”

…

“Today was another day of hard work. I slew many specter fish.

Ah, I’m truly amazing, quietly making contributions to the world, asking for neither recognition nor reward, and keeping my name hidden.”

Jiang Yunxi carefully penned this self-praising note into her diary.

At that moment, the usually silent kitchen knife spoke.

“Don’t you think the number of specter fish has been increasing lately?”

Jiang Yunxi tilted her head in thought, her expression growing serious.

“You’re right. There seem to be more and more specter fish. Killing them all feels impossible.”

“There are too many fish. Relying on just your hands, you can’t kill them faster than they’re multiplying.”

“Then what should I do?” Jiang Yunxi asked worriedly.

“You need to upgrade your gear.”

“Huh?”

“Killing fish one by one is too slow. You need to shock them. A flash of lightning will kill them all at once!”

While electrofishing might be unethical on Earth, in the Blue Mountain Realm, it wasn’t illegal.

And besides, it was specter fish she was targeting.

“How do I shock them?”

“It’s simple. Get some special materials and help me evolve. Once I gain lightning attributes, electrofishing will be easy.”

“But these materials are rare and hard to come by. Usually, they’re priceless,” Qi Yuan added.

While Qi Yuan had money, some refining materials couldn’t be bought easily.

This naive “wealthy miss” seemed to have all the right connections, though.

“If you don’t have enough money, just ask the old man. He’s loaded.”

“Alright, list the materials. I’ll buy them tomorrow!” Jiang Yunxi responded earnestly.

The next day, Jiang Yunxi didn’t touch any vegetables. She packed the kitchen knife carefully, hung it from her belt, and made her way to the city.

About an hour later, she stopped in front of a rustic-looking tower.

This ancient structure, standing barely fifteen meters tall, appeared weathered and frail, as though a single gust of wind might bring it crumbling down.

“Fortunately, this lady is well-informed and knows about this branch of the Heavenly Crafts Pavilion. Their rare materials are far superior to those of the Artifact Forging Association.”

With this thought, Jiang Yunxi strode confidently toward the Heavenly Crafts Pavilion.

A young man stepped forward to block her path.

“This is a private area. Entry is prohibited.”

Some branches of the Heavenly Crafts Pavilion did not permit public access or conduct open trade.

“I’m a distinguished guest of the Heavenly Crafts Pavilion!” Jiang Yunxi presented a jade token.

The young man’s demeanor shifted immediately, replaced by a respectful and fawning smile.

“Please allow me to escort you to the treasure vault. What materials do you require?”

The Heavenly Crafts Pavilion’s treasure vaults, filled with rare items, were not open to just anyone. However, Jiang Yunxi’s status as a VIP granted her special privileges.

“Lead the way.”

In high spirits, Jiang Yunxi followed the young man into the building.

“The treasure vault of the Heavenly Crafts Pavilion is dazzling, far more impressive than the Artifact Forging Association’s offerings,” Jiang Yunxi murmured to the knife.

The young man guiding her smiled proudly but couldn’t help feeling puzzled. Who is she talking to?

“I need Thunderwood, Fangxing Stone, and Dansha Cinnabar…” Jiang Yunxi listed the materials Qi Yuan had requested.

“Please wait a moment. I’ll have them prepared for you.” The young man nodded respectfully, though he was inwardly astonished.

The materials she requested were worth over 300,000 taels in total.

Who exactly is this extravagant guest?

Jiang Yunxi swung her legs playfully as she waited, clearly pleased with herself.

After a short while, a set of approaching footsteps broke the quiet.

A petite woman entered. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise when she saw Jiang Yunxi.

“Yunxi, it’s you!”

“Sister Ye Zhen, what brings you here?” Jiang Yunxi’s face lit up with joy.

The jade token Jiang Yunxi had used earlier was, in fact, a gift from Ye Zhen.

Qi Yuan sensed the newcomer as well.

She was an acquaintance, the same woman who had once invited him to join the Heavenly Crafts Pavilion.

Without much interest, Qi Yuan dismissed the thought and went back to resting.

“I heard a distinguished guest was at this branch, purchasing a large number of rare materials. I didn’t expect it to be you,” Ye Zhen said, her curiosity evident.

Jiang Yunxi beamed. “It’s a small world, isn’t it?”

Though Jiang Yunxi was a noble lady and a princess, she had no talent for artifact crafting, which puzzled Ye Zhen.

“What are you planning to do with all these materials?” Ye Zhen asked directly.

Jiang Yunxi coughed awkwardly, clearly not wanting to reveal too much. “Ahem… It’s a secret.”

Ye Zhen raised an eyebrow. “The materials you’ve requested add up to over 300,000 taels. Yunxi, are you sure no one’s tricking you?”

She sounded cold and a little worried.

Ye Zhen knew Jiang Yunxi’s gullible nature. With such a large sum of money involved, she feared her little sister might have been duped by some charming young artifact master.

“Relax, Ye Zhen! I’m not that naive. Besides, the money isn’t mine,” Jiang Yunxi replied dismissively.

Ye Zhen narrowed her eyes. You’re not naive?

Still, hearing that the money didn’t come out of Jiang Yunxi’s pocket, Ye Zhen relaxed a little.

Yunxi was traveling, but there were undoubtedly people protecting her from the shadows. They wouldn’t let her fall into real danger.

“Why don’t you attend the Artifact Forging Conference in a few days?” Ye Zhen suggested casually. “There should be plenty of rare materials available there.”

Recently, the Artifact Forging Conference at Yeshan Lake had drawn countless master craftsmen, especially Earth-tier artifact masters.

Renowned figures like the Flaming Phoenix Artisan and other Earth-tier artifact masters were coming together to study the legendary weapon, Weilong Xuanyuan.

Yet, despite their combined knowledge, no one had figured out how to repair it. Even Earth-tier Weapon Masters were stumped.

As for lesser smiths? They wouldn’t fare any better.

This upcoming conference was bound to end in disappointment. The Water Sovereign’s looming threat would remain unresolved.

“I don’t think I’ll have time,” Jiang Yunxi said thoughtfully.

The materials she was purchasing today were sufficient for upgrading her kitchen knife, so she didn’t feel any need to attend.

Ye Zhen frowned slightly. “You love crowds, though. What’s holding you back this time?”

Jiang Yunxi hesitated, then leaned in close, her tone turning secretive. “Ye Zhen, I’ll tell you something, but you have to promise not to tell anyone!”

Ye Zhen’s brows furrowed slightly, but she nodded. “Alright.”

After glancing around to ensure no one was eavesdropping, Jiang Yunxi lowered her voice and whispered, “I recently met an old celestial immortal!”

An old swindler, more like, Ye Zhen thought to herself.

“He told me I have unparalleled talent and the potential to save the world!” Jiang Yunxi declared with pride.

Save the world? Have you looked in a mirror lately, Yunxi?

“These past few days, I’ve been training diligently! I can chop 300 pounds of cabbage and 70 pounds of meat into perfect mincemeat in one day!”

…Does she hear herself? Who saves the world by chopping vegetables?

“And recently, I’ve been putting my training to use! Every day, I go to Yeshan Lake in secret to kill specters. Yesterday alone, I killed hundreds of specters!”

Using the term ‘hundreds of specters’ for a few fish? And what about that cabbage?

Ye Zhen forced a smile. “Amazing, Yunxi! You’re destined to leave your mark on history!”

“Hehe, there’s been an increase in specters lately. I can’t afford to slack off. I have to keep working hard to exterminate them and restore peace to the world!” Jiang Yunxi said earnestly.

…

In a grand estate, a richly dressed elder sat, a curious look in his eyes.

“Yunxi spent 300,000 taels on a batch of rare materials?”

The elder was Duke Zhanshan, the younger brother of the emperor of the Ning Kingdom and Jiang Yunxi’s father.

Hearing the report from his subordinates, he frowned slightly, surprised.

Three hundred thousand taels wasn’t a trivial sum, even for him.

Though he adored his daughter, he had only given her about 2,000 taels to spend on this trip.

“It must have been the old man accompanying her who provided the funds,” one of the subordinates guessed.

“To have 300,000 taels on hand… That’s no ordinary person,” Duke Zhanshan muttered, his expression thoughtful. His fingers absently rolled the beads of his golden sandalwood bracelet.

“Find out who this old man is. Treat him with respect, and don’t offend him,” Duke Zhanshan instructed.

He was growing increasingly curious about the man traveling with his daughter, Chen Kangbao.

Initially, when he heard that his daughter was following this eccentric man and learning to cook, he hadn’t been particularly concerned.

Learning to cook isn’t a bad thing, he had thought. He’d even enjoyed the buns she sent back, which she had made herself.

But things had clearly escalated beyond his expectations. This old man had given his daughter access to an astronomical sum of money.

Could such a man be ordinary?

“Understood.”

At that moment, an elderly woman dressed in Daoist robes stepped forward. This was Wang Qingyi, a senior elder of the Heavenly Sect.

“From what I’ve heard, the materials Yunxi purchased were rare crafting materials. Could this old man… be a powerful artifact master?” Wang Qingyi asked thoughtfully.

Duke Zhanshan nodded slightly. “That would explain a lot.”

The upcoming Artifact Forging Conference had drawn numerous master craftsmen to Yeshan Lake.

It was entirely possible that this old man was one of them—an extraordinary master capable of casually producing 300,000 taels.

“At the very least, he’s likely an Earth-tier artifact master, possibly even at the peak of his tier. I haven’t met him yet, but when the opportunity arises, we must invite him to examine Weilong Xuanyuan,” Wang Qingyi said, her expression solemn.

For Wang Qingyi, the repair of Weilong Xuanyuan was of paramount importance.

Without it, the Water Sovereign’s threat to Jining Prefecture remained unchecked.

“The man you described… could he be here because of the rumors circulating in the Ning Kingdom’s capital?” Wang Qingyi asked carefully, studying the Duke’s reaction.

Duke Zhanshan’s face darkened, his tone growing grave. “Not just one group of visitors. Two groups have arrived, both formidable and hostile to each other. They hail from… the Central Lands of the Rosha Empire.”

Hearing this, Wang Qingyi gasped. “The Central Lands?!”

Her voice trembled with awe and longing. “It’s said that Heaven-tier Weapon Masters are not uncommon in the Central Lands, and even gods are said to appear there. If we were in the Central Lands, the Water Sovereign would never dare act so arrogantly!”

The Central Lands were the holy land for Weapon Masters, a paradise for cultivation. Legends spoke of portals leading to otherworldly realms.

“Do you think they might intervene?” Wang Qingyi asked hopefully. “Our sect would be willing to offer precious treasures in exchange for their help!”

Duke Zhanshan smiled bitterly. “What we consider treasures are probably worthless to them. Their arrival in Ning is part of a larger mission. They won’t meddle in what they see as minor affairs.”

Wang Qingyi sighed in disappointment.

What the Ning Kingdom considered a dire crisis, these mighty envoys viewed as nothing more than a trifling matter.

“What brought them to such a remote kingdom?” Wang Qingyi pressed.

Duke Zhanshan hesitated, then lowered his voice. “They’re searching… for a god.”

“A god?!” Wang Qingyi was stunned.

A divine being, here in the Ning Kingdom?

“How could such a thing go unnoticed?” she muttered in disbelief.

“Which god?”

“The Arbiter of Justice, also known as Shen Lin…”

“What? That one? I thought it was destroyed long ago!” Wang Qingyi exclaimed.

The Heavenly Sect’s founder had been said to share an enigmatic connection with a legendary Divine-tier artifact master known as Sheng Nu.

Sheng Nu had once forged a mythical weapon called Shen Lin—a weapon that no one else had ever laid eyes on.

The weapon was said to have swept through evil like an unstoppable force, the mightiest treasure of the Rosha Empire.

With a single invocation of “Shen Lin,” all specters would be vanquished.

Duke Zhanshan shook his head. “I don’t know the specifics. But if we find even a hint of Shen Lin’s whereabouts, informing them could earn their assistance. Perhaps then, they would act to save Jining Prefecture.”

Wang Qingyi nodded gravely. “I’ll report this to the sect leader immediately. If Shen Lin truly appears in Jiangzhou, we must seize this opportunity.”

The looming threat of the Water Sovereign was too great. Without the intervention of these Central Land envoys, Jining Prefecture’s survival hung by a thread.

Elsewhere in the manor, Qi Yuan spoke casually.

“In your travels, beware of anyone with the surname Ye. For example, your sister Ye Zhen. Does she happen to have any cousins or brothers?”

“Huh? I don’t know. Why should I be cautious of people named Ye?”

“Those with the surname Ye often possess the destiny of a protagonist. They’re naturally extraordinary. I’ve heard of many famous individuals with that name.

Ye Fan, Ye Chen, Ye Zhen, Ye Liucheng… Oh, and someone named Ye Bi Daxiong?” Qi Yuan said, as if imparting profound wisdom.

“Huh?” Jiang Yunxi hurriedly took notes.

Elder Knife’s advice was clearly invaluable.

“When you encounter such individuals, you have two choices: cut them down immediately, or cling to them for dear life.” Qi Yuan’s tone was matter-of-fact. “Alright, now take me and the materials to the old man. It’s time for me to evolve.”

“Got it!” Jiang Yunxi nodded eagerly. After a brief pause, she asked hesitantly, “Once you evolve, if I hold you, will you electrocute me?”

“…You’ll be fine,” Qi Yuan reassured her, somewhat exasperated. At least this “host” had the sense to carry an umbrella in the rain.

The following day brought a misty rain, cloaking the landscape in a light drizzle.

Jiang Yunxi carried her upgraded kitchen knife with an expression of uncontainable excitement.

“With this knife, I’m truly invincible!”

Her giddiness showed no bounds.

The day before, after steaming buns, she had used her knife to zap them all into perfection with an electric charge.

It had filled her with a newfound confidence.

Seated on a small boat, she cradled a fish in her hands.

“Little fish, show me where the bad specter fish are hiding!”

The fish trembled briefly before diving into the water, leading Jiang Yunxi forward.

Rising to her feet, Jiang Yunxi let the light rain fall upon her, unbothered by the chill.

Suddenly, she pinched herself hard.

“Ouch!”

“Why are you pinching yourself?” Qi Yuan asked curiously.

This “host” was full of oddities.

“I want to make sure I’m not hallucinating. How could I, of all people, be a heroine destined to save the world? What if this is all just a dream I’m having as I die?”

“You overthink things. Once you’re done saving the world, maybe you should write a novel about it.”

Jiang Yunxi’s heart skipped a beat. “What about you?”

“Me? I’ll continue to enjoy my life. We’re just passing figures in each other’s stories,” Qi Yuan replied nonchalantly.

“Hmm.”

For some reason, Jiang Yunxi felt a pang of melancholy.

She realized she was starting to grow attached to the “companions” she had acquired along her journey.

The lead fish stopped swimming.

Jiang Yunxi’s eyes sharpened, rare killing intent flaring within them.

“Hmph! Specters, you dare run rampant here? Prepare to die!”

Meanwhile, trailing behind, Yun Hu and Yun Li relaxed in their own boat.

Thanks to a special artifact masking their presence, Jiang Yunxi had no idea they were following her.

“Every day she comes out here to kill fish. One day, she’ll be known as the ‘Specter-Slaying Maniac.’ What a title!” Yun Hu joked.

“Wait a minute… Do you notice something strange about the fish up ahead?” Yun Li narrowed her eyes, peering forward. “Get closer.”

Yun Hu’s expression grew serious. “Now that you mention it, there is something odd. Look at the fish ahead—they’re packed together in dense clusters.”

The water in front of Jiang Yunxi was pitch black with fish, swarming together unnaturally.

“Something’s not right. Fish normally compete and even eat each other. Why are they all gathering like this?”

“I’m sensing the presence of specters. Wait… Are these fish actually specters?” Yun Hu’s face paled.

“Damn it! The young lady is in danger! Let’s move!” Yun Hu shouted urgently.

But as the two approached, they witnessed a scene that stunned them to their cores.

Standing on the small boat, Jiang Yunxi raised her kitchen knife. Though her expression was fierce, her voice was sweet.

“Specters, you dare challenge me? Die!”

With a single swing of her blade, a thunderous explosion erupted.

Sparks of lightning crackled through the air, and countless bolts of purple electricity surged across the water.

Within moments, the entire area turned into a sea of lightning.

Thousands—tens of thousands—of specter fish were stunned or killed in an instant.

Jiang Yunxi stood there, kitchen knife in hand, like a goddess of thunder. Her single strike had obliterated everything in its wake.

The water within a hundred meters of her boat roiled and boiled, as if it had been placed over a raging fire.

The swarming specter fish were reduced to nothing more than floating corpses.

As for the small lead fish, it leaped back into Jiang Yunxi’s boat just in time.

“Well done. Today you’ve learned a new recipe—electric water-boiled fish,” Qi Yuan quipped.

As the lightning dissipated and the water gradually calmed, Jiang Yunxi trembled with excitement.

“I’m… so strong!”

From a distance, Yun Hu and Yun Li gawked, unable to comprehend what they had just witnessed.

“What… What was that?”

“Did she… actually learn some real skills?”

The two of them were utterly shaken.

Even from hundreds of meters away, they could feel the terrifying power of the lightning. If they had been any closer, they would have been annihilated in an instant.

But their young lady… She had stood in the center of it all, wielding a kitchen knife to unleash such devastation.

The two exchanged glances, their minds reeling.

When they looked back at the lake, the small boat and Jiang Yunxi were gone, leaving only a sea of specter fish corpses floating on the surface.

The water was eerily calm, as though nothing had happened.

If not for the floating fish, Yun Hu and Yun Li might have thought they had imagined the whole scene.

Swallowing hard, Yun Hu muttered, “The young lady has disappeared!”

Yun Li clenched her fists. “That knife… It’s definitely no ordinary weapon. It must be a Heaven-tier artifact!”

Even if Jiang Yunxi had improved, there was no way she could have unleashed such power on her own.

Clearly, that knife was extraordinary.

“We’ve lost sight of the young lady. This is bad!” Yun Hu said anxiously.

“We need to find her immediately. And this must be reported to the Duke!” Yun Li said firmly.

Both of them realized the gravity of the situation.

What had just happened wasn’t just a minor event—it was something that could shake the heavens.

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